Why I joined Scribe (and why I stayed)

What kind of CTO emphasizes kindness?

This was the closing line in the first email I got from our co-founder and CTO, Aaron:

“You’d be joining an exceptionally kind and thoughtful early group of engineers.”

I remember thinking, “What kind of a CTO would emphasize kindness instead of intelligence when talking about engineers?” I half-thought the next email would ask me to wire some money. But it also made me smile. And that smile has stayed with me ever since.

The timing was strange. I’d spent my career at a few companies by this point — most recently Microsoft — and had started to think I might never really find the right fit. I was gearing up to go freelance with TopTal, chasing full flexibility and time to explore what I’d truly want to do.

But while I’m not the biggest fan of structure, I still value teamwork. I want to be part of something larger, and something lasting. You can build week-to-week features forever, but if you never get to lift your head and look at the horizon, the routine can start to wear on you.

That’s where Scribe had me.
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From frontend to everywhere

I joined as a frontend engineer, but it didn’t take long to branch out. I’ve been lucky enough to touch almost every part of our product — our browser extension with over one million downloads, the desktop app, and now mostly backend. I still like jumping into other areas when I can, and that range has helped me grow and build a broader understanding of how everything fits together.

This is one of the most amazing things about Scribe — working on the parts of the platform that you show the most interest in. If you’re curious, you’re encouraged to dive in. Start small, solve a problem (alone or with someone) and if the interest continues, you can gradually become an owner of that area.

Growing without losing our soul

As I’ve grown, so has Scribe. A lot.

While it’s no longer just four engineers and Aaron coding in a small apartment in Belgrade anymore, we’ve never let go of the emphasis on culture. Even with growing headcount, we’ve been so thoughtful about how we’ve continued to hire — and that’s made it possible (and joyful) to continue working with the kindest (and smartest) people I’ve ever known.

Cutthroat behavior doesn’t have a place here. Measuring is absolute against clear standards — not relative to your peers — and that creates an environment where:

• No one’s afraid to help, thinking it’ll take time away from their project
• No one’s afraid to ask for help, thinking it’ll diminish their spotlight

The mindset really is: a problem shared is a problem halved, and success shared is success doubled. And that plays out in practice. Every other Slack thread seems to include someone thanking someone else for a hand.

Hypergrowth mode

Another great advantage — hopefully I don’t jinx it — is the feeling (and not just the feeling, but the results) of continuous growth.

That clarity of our cofounders’ vision and the momentum and success we’ve maintained at Scribe has brought so many positive benefits. One thing that stands out is that we haven’t had any massive pivots. There are course corrections, of course, but the core mission has remained the same — and that makes the foundation feel very solid.

For engineers, that means no unnecessary stress or whiplash from sudden changes, no pressure from the top to scramble or reorient overnight. Even though I don’t see the inner workings of what teams like Marketing or Sales are doing, it’s clear from the results — they’re crushing it. Everything just feels like a well-oiled machine that’s relentlessly focused on self-improvement.

Have I mentioned the people?

And while the work is fulfilling, the people are what make Scribe special.

It’s the first place I’ve worked where I’ve honestly been happy to hang out with every single person outside of work. Unfortunately, I don’t live close to everyone… and I don’t have infinite time. But if I did — I would.

Scribe has also given me the flexibility to travel and live more fully. I’ve been able to visit South America, California, and spend time at our U.S. headquarters — all while doing meaningful work.

Come join us

So if you’re looking to join a not-so-small, still exceptionally kind and thoughtful group of engineers — I’d love to work with you! Visit scribehow.com/careers.

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